Polk's Judge Belcher strives to offer compassion, guidance

11:53 PM,
Dec. 31, 2013

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People who enter Judge Romonda Belcher's courtroom often made poor choices that brought them before her.

Belcher, a Polk County juvenile court judge, sees youngsters whose behavior at school or elsewhere landed them in trouble with police. She sees parents with drug and alcohol abuse problems; those who suffer from domestic violence; and others who cannot find jobs.

But regardless of their backgrounds, people need to feel that judges lend an open ear, said Belcher, 45, one of The Des Moines Register's 14 people to watch in 2014. ...